Are you struggling to get moving in the morning? While you may refer to yourself as not a “morning” person- you are very capable of becoming one. I will be sharing 6 tips on how to become a morning person.
Routine is everything when it comes to becoming a morning person
Training yourself does not solely relate to working out. We also have to train our bodies, especially if we are seeking to make changes in our lifestyle. Establishing a routine is one of the major steps you will need to take in order to become a morning person.
I have put together a list of 6 important tips that can help you to learn how to become a morning person.
I can’t wait until you notice the changes in your life as you work to apply these simple tips.
6 Tips on How to Become a Morning Person
1. Create a schedule
Having a schedule in place is essential. Create a morning routine and stick to it! A schedule will not only hold you accountable but it will keep you motivated.
I recommend you to select a time and commit to waking up and eating breakfast at the same time daily. This includes weekdays and weekends. You can even include a morning workout or morning stretch into your routine which will help get you moving after your slumber.
You will notice after a week that your body time clock will have adapted to your new schedule and you may find that you are waking up before your alarm.
2. Use a smart alarm
Opt for an alarm that does not have a snooze button. I have overslept so many mornings by accidentally selecting the snooze button. Some of those mornings were not accidental but definitely resulted in me running late to work.
I personally hate to hear abrupt and annoying alarms in the morning. I was lucky enough to find an application, “Sleep Cycle” in my app store (Apple). Sleep Cycle allows you to select the time which you need to wake up by and will gradually wake you within 30 minutes prior to that time, depending on where you are in your sleep cycle.
Studies report that there are stages of sleep when you should not be interrupted. This app monitors your sleep cycles and wakes you at the most appropriate time in order to wake you up when you are feeling optimally rested.
3. Open your blinds
Allow natural or artificial light into your bedroom and throughout the house. Lighting signals to your brain to stop making melatonin which is a hormone that encourages sleep.
Waking up before the sun rises can be a challenge especially if you are trying to wake up and get ready in a dark or poorly lit room. The darkness and poor lighting will promote sleepiness.
4. Exercise
Opting to exercise or stretch first thing in the morning is a perfect routine to help wake up your body. It has been reported that morning exercises assist with lowering blood pressure, reducing stress/anxiety, and encourages you to sleep better at night.
Recommended activities: morning walk/jog/run, walk your dog, yoga
5. Enjoy a protein-packed breakfast
Avoid heavy breakfast items such as biscuits or bagels. Instead, opt for high protein items such as eggs and yogurt. Protein encourages wakefulness and will help in keeping you full longer.
Protein is packed with nutrients to keep your energy levels elevated which will further help you feel better in the mornings.
6. Avoid naps
Fight the urge to nap throughout the day. Naps can definitely through off your schedule and destroy all your progress from your newly developed morning schedule. Naps make it harder to fall asleep at night.
If you are noticing that you are feeling sleepy towards the end of the day, use this as an opportunity to go to bed earlier at night.
I hope you find these 6 tips useful. Please comment below on your experience and feedback.
Let me know what worked and did not work for you. Your insight can help others. If you are a morning person, please share any advice you have regarding what keeps you grounded and motivated to wake up bright and early as you begin your day.